Jack Lam

Jack Lam, who will captain Moana Pasifika for the first time in place of Sekope Kepu, says he hopes the team's win will give them the momentum to carry through against the Blues. 

Lam says it's an opportunity for himself as well as the rest of the team. 

"Very excited as well for us in this group. Obviously a pretty short turn around for us - was it 3 days ago - the boys had played and put a pretty big effort in, so there'll be a couple changes for this game with those boys pulling out with injuries and whatnot."

Eleven players set to make their Moana Pasifika debut on Tuesday, with head coach Aaron Mauger using the full depth of his squad with only a four-day turnaround from Friday's historic win against the Hurricanes.

After playing for the Crusaders in Moana Pasifika's first match, prop Abraham Pole will make his debut for Moana Pasifika as a permanent replacement for the season.

Veteran flanker Jack Lam spent the past two seasons with Japanese club NEC Green Rockets before returning to New Zealand earlier this year, making his way back to Waikato for the 2021 NPC season.

The former Test captain is joined by Counties Manukau Alamanda Motuga and Canterbury's Henry Time-Stowers.

All three played for Samoa against the Māori All Blacks and Tonga in June and July to help secure qualification for the next Rugby World Cup.

More players are expected to be announced next week.

The former Test captain was the most capped player (38) named in a new-look Samoan squad to play the Māori All Blacks and Tonga in June and July, with a number of overseas based stars unavailable because of Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Lam is a free agent after spending the past two seasons with Japanese club NEC Green Rockets and, at 33, is not sure what his rugby future holds.

"At my stage of my career there's not much of my good days ahead of me left so if I can leave with the team qualified for the next World Cup I'd be very happy to leave on that note," he admitted.

Just over a week after a knock from a team-mate damaged his eye, Samoa's Jack Lam has fully recovered his sight.

In his team's final warm-up match against Australia on 7 September, the Manu Samoa captain took a blow from Alapati Leiua during a tackle. He had to leave the field, fearing that his participation at a second World Cup could be in danger.

"I was seeing about 30 different Wallabies players at the time, so I was a bit of a liability to my team. I had to make a call and come off the field," Lam said.

Lam has played a total of 35 international test matches, making him the second highest coming behind  Tusi Pisi who has played a total of 37 matches.

Lam was one of the two players that were called back for a last minute fitness test before flying out to Japan.

He was replaced  late in the first half of Saturday's 34-15 defeat by Australia in Parramatta after taking a knock to the eye while attempting to tackle Sekope Kepu, with Malolua following suit a couple of minutes later after dislocating his shoulder.

However, Lam passed the test.